Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson (33) reacts as he shot is blocked by Charlotte Hornets center Dwight Howard (12) in the second quater at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson (33) reacts as he shot is blocked by Charlotte Hornets center Dwight Howard (12) in the second quater at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) puts the ball up around Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) in the second quater at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets guard Eric Gordon (10) puts the ball up around Charlotte Hornets guard Nicolas Batum (5) in the second quater at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) drives to the basket in the second quater against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) drives to the basket in the second quater against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) is taken out of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) is taken out of the game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) looks at Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) after falling on the floor injured in the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. less

Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) looks at Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) after falling on the floor injured in the second quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets forward Luc Mbah a Moute (12) dunks the ball against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) puts up a three-point shot against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) puts up a three-point shot against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket around Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) in the second quarter at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) drives to the basket around Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) in the second quarter at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson (33) points to the sky during the second quarter of game action against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets forward Ryan Anderson (33) points to the sky during the second quarter of game action against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) makes his way onto the court during introductions before the Houston Rockets host Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) makes his way onto the court during introductions before the Houston Rockets host Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni talks to the referee during the second half of game action against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Rockets won the game 108-96. less

Houston Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni talks to the referee during the second half of game action against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Rockets won the ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) laugh while sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Rockets won the game 108-96. less

Houston Rockets forward Trevor Ariza (1) and Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) laugh while sitting on the bench in the fourth quarter against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) holds out his fingers after scoring a three-point shot during Houston's win over Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Paul was high scorer with 31 points in the game. less

Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) holds out his fingers after scoring a three-point shot during Houston's win over Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Paul was ... more

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (15) dunks the ball in the second half of game action against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Rockets won the game 108-96.

Houston Rockets center Clint Capela (15) dunks the ball in the second half of game action against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Rockets won the game 108-96.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) puts up a shot in the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul (3) puts up a shot in the first half against the Charlotte Hornets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Charlotte Hornets assistant head coach Stephen Silas talks to the referee during game action against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Charlotte Hornets head coach Steve Clifford was not at the game. less

Charlotte Hornets assistant head coach Stephen Silas talks to the referee during game action against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017, in Houston. Charlotte Hornets head ... more

James Harden and Chris Paul are making the initial skeptics look like fools. Two ball-dominant guards, who sucked in defenders and forced teammates to revolve around them like suns in separate galaxies, had spun the potential of their alignment into question.

They were two of the best guards on Earth before this season. In the Rockets 11th consecutive win on Wednesday night they looked better together they ever had apart.

Again, they turned competition into comedy, combining for 52 points and 19 assists in a 108-96 laugher over the Hornets. The Rockets remain atop the NBA at 22-4, the second-best record in franchise history behind the championship 1994 team.

In the last five games, Harden and Paul combined averaged 55.2 points.

Despite churning the league's most prolific offense, the Rockets often have started sluggishly this season. After scoring the first point on Wednesday night, they needed more than nine minutes to retake the lead.

Dwight Howard has been rejuvenated since joining the Hornets this year. Early in the game, he punished the Rockets, his former team for three embattled years, and forced coach Mike D'Antoni to swap Clint Capela for the bulkier Nene.

Howard would finish with 26 points, but his damage proved minimal.

The Rockets swiftly overcame a six-point deficit in the first quarter when their bench scored 13 points to bolster Harden's persistent drives.

Paul shined a bit brighter than Harden in their black jerseys on Wednesday. He propelled his season-high 31 points with his season-high five 3s.

The Rockets were not finished with their scoring run when the first quarter ended. They poured in 25 unanswered points.

With Harden off the floor to start the second quarter, Paul kept up the pace: another 3, a strip, a no-look pass to Capela for a transition dunk, a weave in and out of the paint to find Ariza for an open 3 that detonated the crowd.

Rockets fans and opponents have come to expect surges this season, but the Hornets, despite going 0-8 from 3, managed to outscore the Rockets in the second quarter.

The Hornets' 10 consecutive points only slowed the inevitable blowout. The Rockets still ended the half ahead 63-49.

A left shoulder injury to Luc Mbah a Moute in the second quarter stung the Rockets more. The Toyota Center crowd hushed after he hammered in a two-handed dunk with so much momentum that he crashed to the floor and writhed in pain. A cart rolled out, but moments later Mbah a Moute stood up and walked to the locker room. He did not return to the game.

The Rockets quickly regained a lead that hovered around 20 points, which they would not relinquish.

Reunited to start the second half, Harden and Paul toyed with the Hornets. Paul screened a defender and bounced an assist between his legs backward into Harden's pocket for a 3.

D'Antoni called on the end of his bench for the final two-plus minutes.

"They're both able to control the game with their dribble, they both make their teammates better, they're able to get wherever they want on the floor, they both shoot 3s," Silas said. "They're really tough to guard. And if you're trying to switch, they beat the switch, if they don't switch, they're going to draw the second defender and beat the play."